Did you know Global Meetings Industry Day (GMID) is on April 12? Why should you care? Because for the first time ever, you'll have the chance to connect with your peers and industry leaders across the globe as they rally, educate and advocate at events hosted by MPI and a multitude of other industry organizations!

Join us for a one-of-a-kind virtual event showcasing industry events worldwide, brought to you by Meeting Professionals International and Meetings Mean Business. This 12-hour virtual event will take you to events from Tokyo to LA and many points in-between. And it’s completely free to all those who register now!

Jumpstart your conference experience with an array of pre-conference courses designed to help you become a more strategic event professional and a better leader. These courses are available with or without full conference registration.

​CMP Master ClassSaturday, June 2 • 10:00 AM - 5:00 PMThis interactive session covers industry best practices as outlined in the CMP-International Standards (CMP-IS). Prepare for the exam and applying it on the job.There's no better way to get CMP-ready! Learn more

Basics Boot Camp: Meeting FundamentalsSaturday, June 2 • 10:00 AM - 5:00 PMJust getting started in the world of meetings and events? This program will provide a quick and easy plan for you to develop your skills. Learn more

Women in Leadership Executive Leadership Skills Saturday, June 2 • 1:00 - 5:00 PMWomen play key roles in the hospitality and meeting industries, but many find it challenging to move into leadership positions. Create a personal action plan to overcome the common career obstacles women face. Learn more

​Meetings Mean Business is an industry-wide coalition to showcase the undeniable value that business meetings, trade shows, incentive travel, exhibitions, conferences and conventions bring to people, businesses and communities.We welcome members from all industry associations as well as individuals who are not yet members of an industry association. Industry students are also encouraged to attend.

The 30th Arnold Classic, the professional bodybuilding competition that is the foundation of the Arnold Sports Festival, will be among the events hosted by the SMG-managed Greater Columbus Convention Center (GCCC) during the return of the world’s largest multi-sport festival.“This will be the biggest and best Arnold Sports Festival we’ve ever had,” said Jim Lorimer, chief executive officer of Classic Productions, Inc. and co-founder of the festival. “Arnold Schwarzenegger has been coming to Columbus for more than 40 years and we began the Arnold Classic 30 years ago this year. We have a long and wonderful history together. When the convention center opened, that’s when people started coming from around the world.”“It is exciting to see how far we have come with the festival. Our goal was to promote the competitive side of bodybuilding to gain respect, but one thing led to another and here we are,” said Arnold Schwarzenegger, the festival co-founder. “You always need a reason to celebrate and this festival will be the best ever. We want to make the world a healthier place and everyone is welcome.”

​The festival is expected to attract more than 200,000 attendees from dozens of nations, nearly 22,000 participating athletes, 1,100 Arnold Fitness EXPO booths, 16 Olympic sports and 78 total sports and events scheduled at 13 venues. There will be 100 local hotels booked by attendees during their stay. The festival also utilizes the services of a 600-person volunteer medical team staffing 30 stations and hundreds of additional general volunteers.

Arnold Fitness EXPO tickets are $15 per adult per day in advance at www.ticketmaster.com/arnold and $20 at the door per day. Kids age 14 and younger are admitted free with an adult paying admission. Baby strollers are not permitted within the EXPO.Free shuttles will operate between the GCCC and Ohio Expo Center from March 2-4.“We’re proud to offer an expanded and enhanced convention center to the festival. The Arnold Sports Festival will be utilizing new spaces this year to the fullest extent as a result of our 22-month expansion and renovation that was underway during the past two festivals,” said GCCC General Manager John R. Page. “We are honored to contribute to the growth of this event that is now presented on six continents.”The Greater Columbus Convention Center is located in downtown Columbus and owned by the Franklin County Convention Facilities Authority and managed by SMG. The $140 million expansion and renovation of the facility was completed in July 2017.Founded in 1977, SMG provides management services to 233 public assembly facilities including convention and exhibition centers, arenas, stadiums, theaters, performing arts centers, amphitheaters, equestrian facilities, science centers and a variety of other venues. With facilities across the globe, SMG manages more than 15 million square feet of exhibition space and more than 1.5 million sports and entertainment seats. As the recognized global industry leader, SMG provides venue management, sales, marketing, event booking and programming, construction and design consulting, and pre-opening services for such landmark facilities as McCormick Place & Soldier Field in Chicago, Moscone Convention Center in San Francisco, Houston’s NRG Park and the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans. SMG also offers food and beverage operations through its concessions and catering companies, currently serving more than 140 accounts worldwide.Visit www.columbusconventions.com and www.smgworld.com for more information.

A few weeks ago, Short’s Brewing Company announced the lineup for their 14th Anniversary Battle of the Bands competition. Over the course of the next two months, 13 selected bands will battle for a paying gig to perform as the opener at Short’s 14th Anniversary Party on April 28th, 2018.

Selected bands will take the pub stage on six Sundays this winter and spring, two-three each evening, to show off their skills. Each band will play three songs (one song must be original) in front of a live audience and Short’s panel of celebrity judges including representatives from the Crosshatch Center for Art and Ecology and Earthwork Music. Bands will be evaluated on their stage presence, “tightness,” original song, and overall party “vibe.” The band(s) with the highest overall scores will move on to the semi-finals. A final battle will be held on Sunday, April 8th. ​

Sounds like fun doesn’t it! Want to start a battle of the bands in your town? We spoke with Emily Torrence, Project Manager/Marketing Coordinator, Short’s Brewing Company to gain insight into the event. With this being Short’s 2nd year to host a battle of the bands competition, planning began about three months ago, according to Torrence.

Midwest Meetings: Who and how do you solicit judges?

Emily Torrence: Our Judges have a number of different backgrounds in music or the arts. They are all local people in the community with backgrounds in recording, music/band, or the arts. The judges really enjoyed the event and all of them were excited to participate this year, so we have the same panel as last year. They each offer an alternate at the beginning in case they are unavailable for a certain day.

MM: Explain your audition process and how the final event judging happens.

ET:Auditions are submitted on our website. Bands are required to submit the following information: band name, where they are from, genre, bio, number of members, stage plot, website video or social media links, and contact information. Our team decided who would participate and went to work on scheduling. The bands are then judged on the following: one original song, stage presence, tightness and overall Anniversary Party fit. The top scoring bands move on to the semi-finals and from there two bands advance to the finals.

MM: What tips do you have for other community organizers who may want to plan a battle of the bands?

ET: One important thing is to find judges that really understand the vibe and the atmosphere of the venue that is hosting the competition, and that everyone is on the same page for what kind of sound is right for the event. Not saying that the judges can't have different opinions or preferences, but they do need a good grasp on what type and style of music would compliment the event best. Additionally, we believe it is a very kind gesture to compensate the judges for their time via gift cards, a meal, etc. They are taking time out of their lives in order to provide a service to whomever is hosting the competition, and we believe that compensation, even something small, is a kind gesture that makes them feel appreciated. Finally, try to schedule a few bands at a time, rather than sending out invitations all at once, because each band is a dynamic group and it can be difficult to find a date that works for the whole group. Keeping some slots available later in the competition is a vital part of the planning process, so you can easily move bands around if needed, as well as replace or reschedule bands that cannot make their scheduled dates.

Celebrated each April, Short’s Anniversary Party brings an estimated 3,000 party attendees to downtown Bellaire for Short’s brews, Starcut Ciders, live music, and local food trucks. Headlining acts for #SBCANNIPARTY14 will be announced with ticket sales on Monday, February 19th.

About Short’s Brewing CompanyLocated in the heart of Downtown Bellaire, MI, Short’s Brewing Co. was established in 2004 by Joe Short. In 2009, Short’s began keg and bottle distribution in Michigan via their Elk Rapids Production Facility. Starcut Ciders is a division of Short’s Brewing Company born out of a desire to celebrate the bounty of Michigan orchards. The brewery is known widely for their flagship and experimental brews including Huma Lupa Licious and Soft Parade. Short’s prides themselves on producing fearlessly creative beers, handmade by people who care in Northern Michigan.

For over two decades, outdoor oriented Michiganders have met on the campus of Michigan State University to celebrate non-motorized, outdoor recreation and a shared concern for our Great Lakes environment. The event is a key part of MSU’s Agriculture and Natural Resources Week. Last year, nearly 3,000 persons from all parts of North America attended this annual event.

The 23rd Quiet Water Symposium program will feature seminars on outdoor activities such as paddle sports, cycling, fishing, hiking and camping. Noted authors and outdoor experts such as Kevin Callan, Cliff Jacobson and Michigan’s own Jim DuFresne and Doc Fletcher will entertain and inform. In addition to these seminars, there will be interactive displays staffed by knowledgeable enthusiasts and experts on topics such as wooden boat building, camp cooking, cycling, kayaking, sailing, and protecting our watersheds and environment. The exhibition hall will also feature many vendors and outfitters all available to help in choosing the right gear, adventure location or class with which to get the proper start. In particular, this year’s symposium will feature presentations on Hiking the Porcupine Mountains, Paddling Isle Royale, Winter Camping, The Iron Belle Trail, Canoeing in the Boundary Waters, DALMAC and many more.

Ecological and personal health concerns have increased the interest in non-motorized, outdoor recreation. This has spurred the use of canoes, kayaks, and sailing vessels as well as bicycles and other “green” human powered conveyances. The 2018 Quiet Water Symposium will continue to focus on these areas and on conservation as it has done since the first event was held in 1996. This year, we have asked all of our speakers to emphasize safety, and we have included a special panel discussion with five noted experts on enhancing safety in outdoor activities.

For more information on the Quiet Water Symposium, visit www.quietwatersociety.org, the Quiet Water Symposium page on Facebook, or contact our event manager, Tammi Connell, at 517.668.6029.

The 23rd Annual Quiet Water SymposiumSaturday, March 3, 20189:00 AM to 5:30 PMMSU Pavilion for Agriculture and Livestock Education4301 Farm Lane, Lansing, MIAdmission $10:00, students with ID $5.00 and children under 12

Chicago will host a new cocktail conference this spring. Called Chicago Style, it will take place May 7 to 10, after the gala for the James Beard Awards.

While the convention’s format is familiar — seminars, parties and competitions for bartenders, bar owners, spirit makers and others in the industry — its philosophical mission sets it apart. The three founders, all women, plan to use the gathering to address social problems, including sexism, substance abuse and a lack of diversity, that the bar business has started to grapple with over the past year or so.

DigiMarCon Chicago 2018 is your chance to ...- Hear from the most audacious and provocative speakers in the digital marketing industry.- Gain insight into emerging strategies, the latest innovative technologies, and best practices.- Network with thought leaders, build your network and collaborate with your peers.

DigiMarCon Chicago 2018 Digital Marketing Conference will be held from June 20th to 21st, 2018 at the luxurious Hyatt Regency McCormick Place in Chicago, Illinois. Whether your goal is to reinforce customer loyalty, improve lead generation, increase sales, or drive stronger consumer engagement, the DigiMarCon Chicago 2018 program has been specifically designed to help attendees develop their audience. ​

DigiMarCon Chicago 2018 offers all of the elements you need to achieve digital marketing success! Conventional thought will be challenged, new ways of thinking will emerge, and you will leave with your head and notebook full of action items and ideas to lead your agency / team / account to even greater success.

Come to DigiMarCon Chicago 2018 and discover how to thrive as a marketer in a world where everything is digital.